What is cladistics in the context of genetics?

Cladistics is a method of classification that focuses on organizing species based on their evolutionary relationships and common ancestry. This approach uses shared characteristics derived from a common ancestor to construct a branching diagram called a cladogram. Cladograms visually represent these relationships, helping biologists understand how different organisms are related through evolution.

In the context of genetics, cladistics can be particularly powerful as it integrates genetic data to elucidate these relationships. By analyzing genetic sequences, scientists can determine how closely related different species are and trace the lineage of various traits through evolution.

This method emphasizes the evolutionary history and divergence of species rather than just observable traits, making it a vital tool in systematics and evolutionary biology.